Monday, 15 June 2009

Haven't we all dreamed of finding a book that goes beyond just providing us with goregous images to pour our eyes over, but actually provides practical advice, too? As lovely as coffee table/aspriational imagery books are, it's a welcome change to find books on the market which provide this element, yet combine it with the chance to learn practical tips on decorating to use in your own home.

Well, courtsey of author Abigial Ahern, such a book is now avaliable and it's fabulous! Brimming with tips on all the basics from hanging wallpaper to putting up shelves, A Girl's Guide To Decoratingwill help anyone understand the core elements of interior design and is bound to inspire you to take bolder steps when decorating your own home. With gorgeous photography by Graham Atkins-Hughes and chapters full of step-by-step guides, this has to be Bright.Bazaar's favourite interiors book of the moment. Have you read the book? If so, let us know what you thought of it below.

Image: Graham Atkins-Hughes

Also, check out Abigial's fab blog - it's lovely to have an insight into her world and her inspirations. Her living room appeared recently in a 50 fabulous rooms feature inside Living Etc and we have to say we love it! Happy Monday everyone!

Friday, 12 June 2009

Wow, what a busy few weeks it's been over at Bright.Bazaar HQ (sounds posh, but it really isn't - we're talking a tiny desk in front of a modest window!). I've just moved into a new flat, so last week was a case of packing, packing, packing and this week's been all about the unpacking, finding new homes for everything and nesting, which is something I really enjoy. In the little spare time I've managed to find, I've been busy planning ways to add a personal touches to the flat, all of which I will share on Bright.Bazaar when they are completed. I'm excited to try out new things and really make the most of my creative inspirations.

Bed linen from Toast

In the time Bright.Bazaar has been 'offline' I've really missed regularly catching up with all the latest Interiors news from the lovely ladies over at Wales At Home. This fantastic site is ran by interiors expert Nicola Wilkes. Nicola is a well respected interiors writer, who has written for some of my favourite interior mags including Elle Decoration, Ideal Home and Real Homes, to name but a few. The site features a diverse collection of interiors-related articles, competitions, book reviews, along with updates on the latest inspirational products available on the market.

B&B Italia Charles sofa from Momentum

Having spent three years living in Wales whilst I was at studying at Cardiff University, I feel a strong sense of nostalgia over almost anything related to my time there. Perhaps it's because it was during this time that I discovered my love for interiors, either way, Nicola's site is a delight to read/pour one's eyes over/generally browse at leisure. I highly recommend you check out her site here, but before you go here are some pictures from the Wales At Home team to give you a flavour of what to expect.

Wednesday, 3 June 2009

Over at Bright.Bazaar we have been taking our inspiration from the gorgeous UK weather and consequently we've spent the the morning hankering after these delightful outdoor room sets. The styling on the decking in beach house above simply makes us beam from ear to ear. The bench looks inviting and comfy with a collection of both small and over-sized pillows. The metal signs which hang from the wooden walls add character, warmth and charm to the setting. We don't know about you but this image makes us long to see what they've done inside the beach house.

A fantastic way to create a versatile space in your garden comes in the form of the trusty old shed. Often forgotten about at the bottom of the garden and probably full of spades and spiders, the garden shed can, with minimal financial input and a splash of creativity be turned into a glorious escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Here are two of our favourites; a light and airy outside living area, which spills out onto the lawn in better weathers, and for those with younger family members, we chose this quaint shed full of mini tables and chairs for children to use for crafts and summer games. What inspires you to decorate in the summer months? Are you planning to turn your shed, garden or decking into an outside room? Let us know below, we love to receive all your comments.